Summary of Meeting:Macrophages occupy a unique niche in the immune system, in that they not only can initiate immune responses but they can also be effector cells which contribute to the resolution of these responses. The immunologic activation of macrophages can cause dramatic differences in their physiology. It is now well-appreciated that there is no single activation phenotype, and that macrophages can be induced to differentiate into cells that either exacerbate or inhibit inflammation. Similarly, these cells can promote, deviate, or suppress adaptive immune responses. The various states of macrophage activation and the mechanism of their induction will be examined. These discussions should lead to a better understanding of how specific alterations in macrophage physiology can contribute to or ameliorate inflammation, immune deviation, and the elimination of microbial pathogens.

Steven L. Kunkel,
University of Michigan Medical School, USA
The Central Role of Chemokines in Linking Innate and Adaptive Immunity

Frank Brombacher,
International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, South Africa
The Role of Alternatively Activated Macrophages in Infectious Diseases: Studies in Macrophage-Specific IL-4 Receptor-alpha Deficient Mice

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